Plan for These Ten Costs When You're Moving

According to University Hospitals, moving is the third most stressful life event, behind only divorce and the death of a loved one.¹ When you stop to consider all of the details that go along with buying and/or selling a property and the actual act of relocating yourself and your belongings, it's not hard to understand why.

 

Forgetting for a moment all that goes into actually finding and buying/selling/renting a home, let's look at potential costs you may face during the actual moving process.

 

1. Buying packing supplies

As you know, moving means packing, and chances are, you don't have all of the supplies you need just sitting around. If you don't have access to boxes, you'll have to buy some, as well as packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. You may want to add labels and markers to the list to help you keep organized. Depending on whether or not you're using a moving service, renting a truck, or relying on your own (and friends') vehicles, you may also need a dolly to help you move large items. A dolly can cost anywhere from $55 to $160, or you can rent one from a  home-improvement or hardware store.

 

2. Renting a truck

If you're not hiring movers, you will probably need to rent a moving truck. The cost will depend on how large of a truck you need, how long you need it for, and how many miles you have to drive it. There will also be taxes and fees added to the bill. Do some price comparisons beforehand to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

 

3. Paying the moving company

Renting a truck means putting in the manual labor on top of the cost, which is why many people prefer to just hire a moving company. This will take care of the truck(s) and the labor, but it will also cost significantly more. Even short-distance moves can get pricey when you pay movers. Beyond the actual cost of the movers, people usually tip them. The amount will depend on a variety of factors, including how hard they've worked, your level of satisfaction, distance, the number of items they've moved, and, of course, your own budget.

 

4. Feeding yourself and your crew

You'll need to eat on moving day, but things will likely be too chaotic for you to consider cooking. You will probably need to have something delivered or go through a drive-through if you're handling the moving. If you have friends or family who are helping you with the move, it's only courteous to feed them for their trouble, so you won't only be paying to feed yourself. If you've hired a moving company, you may find the time to go to a restaurant. Either way, you'll be paying restaurant prices.

 

5. Buying gas

If you rent a truck, you'll be paying for the gas you use for that, but you'll also have to transport your own vehicle(s) to your new home. Depending on how far a move you're making, this can add up. It can get even more expensive if you're making multiple trips. If you have friends pitching in with their own vehicles, it would be nice to pay for their gas as well.

 

6. Paying for airfare and hotels

If you're moving long-distance, you may need to do some flying, and that's usually not cheap. Air travel will come with baggage fees, more food costs, and transportation once you're on the ground. A long-distance move may also require you to seek lodging between your old home and your new one. Plan this out ahead of time to do your wallet a favor.

 

7. Replacing lost or broken items

When you move, it's likely that something will get lost or broken. Unfortunately, you never know what that will be until it happens, or until it comes up missing. If you're lucky, nothing valuable will be damaged or lost, but if it is, you may wish to replace it.

 

8. Moving insurance

You can get moving insurance to cover the loss/damage of items, but that is yet another expense. According to Unpakt.com, "Full-value-protection moving insurance costs about 1% of the valuation of your items, which means that if you value your items at $50,000, full value protection insurance would cost about $500. The higher your valuation, the higher the cost of moving insurance."²

 

9. Renting a storage unit

You may need to rent a storage unit for your belongings if your new home isn’t move-in ready. Pricing will depend on size and features, such as climate control. Shop around to find the best deal in the area.

 

10. Missing work

Finally, you will probably need to take some time off work to handle your move. Hopefully, you'll be able to use paid time off, but if not, this is another expense to account for.

 

Make sure you're prepared for the financial burden of moving before you make any final plans. If you set money aside beforehand for moving expenses, the experience will be less stressful for everyone.

 

1. https://www.uhhospitals.org/Healthy-at-UH/articles/2015/07/the-top-5-most-stressful-life-events

2. https://www.unpakt.com/blog/questions-and-answers/how-much-does-moving-insurance-cost/

 

The information provided is presented for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal or business advice. Any views expressed in this article may not necessarily be those of Nevada State Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC